Don Finley: Flu bug No. 2

Flu is in full swing in Bexar County and throughout Texas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

With reporting a couple of weeks behind, A-California – which is one of the three strains contained in this season’s vaccine – is the dominant flu virus circulating. However, a second strain of B virus has surfaced in Dallas County. It too is believed to be a good match with the B virus used in the vaccine. Nationwide, a handful of B strains have been reported.

Dallas was also the location of the first Texas pediatric death from flu this season, a 14-year-old girl who became ill Dec. 19 and died Jan. 1. She had a history of heart problems and had not been vaccinated. The virus was confirmed as an A strain.

Studies have shown A strains to be more deadly, particularly among the elderly. There are more antiviral drugs against A strains to lessen the severity of infection after someone is infected. But this year, doctors are asked not to give two older antivirals, Amantadine and Rimantadine, to patients because of drug resistance issues.

Some have suggested that B viruses are less dangerous to older people because they are less likely to change from year to year, and many people have built up immunity over their lifetimes.